Malik Washington, WR Virginia
Size:
Height: 5’8.5”
Weight: 191 pounds
Arm Length: 30 3/8”
Hand Size: 9 1/4"
Accomplishments:
Second Team All-American (2023)
“Malik Washington is an uber-productive slot receiver who wins with quickness, toughness, and separation ability.”
Strengths:
Toughness
Separation quickness
Ball skills
Concerns:
Size
Length
Top-end speed
Film Analysis:
Virginia’s Malik Washington is one of my favorite players in this class and one who has quickly risen up draft boards. Washington is a fifth-year senior who played his first four years at Northwestern before playing his last year at the University of Virginia, where he set career highs in all receiving categories.
Washington is an undersized receiver who has the heart of a lion. Virginia funneled their passing game through him. He aligned all over the formation and they strategically would scheme him open to get the ball in his hands. Washington has outstanding quickness and can separate at the top of his routes with ease. He is a highly intelligent football player who knows how to use head and body fakes to set up defenders and then explode laterally to create separation.
Washington can find the soft spot in zone coverage and always works back toward the football. Washington has tremendous ball skills and is a natural hands-catcher. He is quicker than fast and lacks top-end deep speed, but he has shown an ability to win down the field. For a small receiver, Washington has very good tackle-breaking ability and will fight for every last yard. He is alpha on the field with a winning attitude. He wants the football and specifically wants it in the game’s biggest moments.
While there is so much to like about Washington, at the end of the day, he is very undersized and lacks NFL height, length, and strength. He is a slot-only receiver at the next level and history shows that these types of players don’t get drafted highly—especially ones who aren’t overly dynamic in the return game. Washington gets a mid-round grade from me but I wouldn’t bet against him.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Brentley Weissman
Exposures: Louisville (2023), Miami (2023), North Carolina (2023)
